Means for propelling steamships or other vessels.



B. F. WRIGHT.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1913.

1 1% 7@@ Patent-ed May 25, 1915.

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gin. can 0 0 O o ZfiVE-SSES v o O INVENTOR /vu/m/g o f THE NORRIS PETERS COU PHOTOLITHO. WASHINGTON, D. c.

B. F. WRlGHT.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS.

APPLICATION man APR. 20. 1913. 1 14 789 Patentad May 25, 1915.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WE NORRIS PETERS c0., PHOTO-LITHOY WASHINGTON, D. C

B. F. WRIGHT.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING STEAM SHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS. APPLlCATlON FILED APR.26.1913.

1,14%736 Patented May 25, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

7 2?. at I WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-THO WASHINGTON, D. C

B. F. WRIGHT.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING STEAMSHiPS OR OTHER VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1913.

Lmfififi Patented m 25, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE NORRIS FETE'RS C0,. -PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGNN, D. C

BENJAMIN F. WRIGHT, 0F ELK HILL, VIRGINIA.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING STEAMSHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application filed Apri126, 1913. Serial No. 763,899.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elk Hill, in the county of Groochland and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Propelling Steamships or other Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the propulsion of all classes of vessels, whereby it is proposed to utilize, or more strictly speaking avoid the loss of power which is caused by the waste forces of the water thrown backward from the stern of the vessel by the propeller as now in use and to overcome the resistance of water in front of the vessel, or at the bow, and apply the same directly in assisting to drive the propeller, thereby increasing the speed of the vessel.

The objects of my invention, are first to overcome the resistance at the bow of the vessel caused by the inertness of water, which increases in proportion to the square of the speed; second, to avoid loss from the backward whirling current created at the stern of the vessel by the propeller, said loss being one-half the engine or propelling power; and third, to apply the resistance with which the vessel strikes the water at the bow directly in assisting to drive the propeller.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the ac companying drawings described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto.

in describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the sev eral views, and in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vessel, the propelling means comprising my invention being employed in connection therewith; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, enlarged, of a portion of the hull, fully illustrating the interior mechanism; Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a vessel; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the propeller or driving means, the hull of the vessel being shown only in outline and parts thereof being shown in section; Fig. 5 is a front elevation illustrating the application of double or twin propellers; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the spiral apparatus; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly broken away; Fig. 8 is a detail cross sectional view of the corrugated cone; and, Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cone lining upon which the corrugations shown in Fig. 8 are arranged or planted.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred form of my invention, the numeral 1 designates a vessel to which the propelling means is secured.

Fig. 1 illustrates an elevation of the vessel giving a side View as it would appear with the cylindrical propeller casing 2- being shown in section. The said casing 2 is secured in any suitable manner near the forward end of the vessel beneath the water line thereof and has secured adjacent thereto by means of a depending plate 3, a suitable bearing 4 within which the driving shaft 5 of the propelling means is journaled.

Fig. a illustrates a plan view of the vessel l, partly broken away showing the general outline, with the deck of the vessel removed, and showing the cylindrical shape of the vessel below the water line, which, in the absence of a better term will be hereinafter called, a supplementary hull, and designated by the numeral 6. A base plate 7 of any suitable material is secured near the forward end of the supplementary hull 6 and extends forwardly therefrom a sufficient distance to be secured to the lower er;- tremity of the cylindrical casing 2, thus materially bracing the said casing and affording a rigid mounting or connection therefor.

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3 that the supplementary hull 6 is united to the hull of the vessel 1 beneath the water line w00, and that the cylindrical or supplementary hull 6 is entirely submerged in the water.

A propeller 8 is arranged at the bow of the ship and is inclosed within the cylindrical casing 2. Back of the propeller 8 is disposed the conically shaped spiral apparatus designated in its entirety by the numeral 9, the detail description of which will be hereinafter fully given. Brace plates 10 extend transversely to the casing 2- at the forward end thereof, which with the base plate 7 and the depending plate 3 rigidly support the said casing as well as the bearing 4 of the driving shaft 5 of the vessel.

The main or propeller shaft 5 which is inclosed within the supplementary hull of the vessel. extends or passes through a suitable sleeve 11, a hub 12, and a second or cone hub 13 and is supported at its forward end within the bearing 4, above described. Collars are turned or formed upon the propeller shaft in the usual manner and fit within a bearing formed by an adjustable thrust-block 14, into which are fitted any number of semi-circular rings 15, to receive the pull of the propeller, the said thrust blocks 14 having caps (not shown) arranged thereover, the said caps being secured in proper place by means of bolts for retaining the shafts in proper place. The thrustblock 14 fits within a suitable support 16 which is firmly secured in any suitable manner to the supplementary hull 6. The spirally shaped apparatus 9 is composed of any desired number of spirals or vanes 17 which commence at the apex of the cone which they form and extend rearwardly until they reach the base of the cone, each vane increasing in width as the diameter of the cone increases. The cross section of these spires or vanes 17 illustrated in Fig. 2, shows their edges beveled and their faces extending parallel to the propeller shaft,

' though they may be set backward from a true line with the'shaft and upon a slight angle if so desired, but having their inner faces parallel with the shaft, appears from tests made, to be preferable. The vanes 17 are securely fastened at their front ends by vanes are secured to a sleeve 11, which' passes through a plate 19, which forms the forward end of the supplementary hull 6. To the plate 19 is secured a flanged ring 20 forming a packing chamber having any desired number of semi-circular metallic rings 21 secured thereto and also a suitable pliable packing set up thereupon by means of a gland 22. By this construction, a lubricated bearing is provided within which the said sleeve 11 rotates, at the same time effecting a water tight bearing for the said sleeve. The metallic rings being semi-circular or divided, new ones may be added at pleasure. The annular disk 18 and the main disk 23 to which it is attached as at 24, are secured to the sleeve 11 through the medium of bolts 25, thereby causing the vanes 17 to revolve or rotate according to the rotation of the said sleeve. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the spiral apparatus 9, is secured to the sleeve 11 by means of the annular disk 18 and main disk 23.

One end of the sleeve 11 fits into a thrustbearing 26, where it is held in place by semicircular metallic rings 27 slipped into grooves formed within the said bearing and into corresponding grooves in the sleeve, and the said bearing 26 is provided with a cap (not shown), the said cap having semi-circular rings and grooves corresponding'to the thrust block or bearing 26 and is rigidly bolted to the said bearing for retaining the shaft and sleeves in proper place. Mounted upon the sleeve 11 and rotatable therewith I provide a bevel gear 28 which meshes with a bevel gear 29 mounted upon a stub shaft 30 journaled as at 31 and extending transversely to the main shaft 5. The said gear 29 in turn meshes with a bevel gear 32 mounted upon the sleeve 11 to which it is secured thereby connecting the sleeves 11 and 11 and rotating the same in reverse directions. Mounted on the sleeve 11 and rotatable therewith is a spur gear 33 which meshes with a gear wheel 34 on a shaft 35 extending parallel to the main shaft 5 and mounted within suitable bearings 36 provided throughout its length. Another gear wheel 37 is keyed to the said shaft 35 near the opposite end from that of the wheel 34, the latter gear 37 meshing with a gear wheel 38 secured on the main propeller shaft 5. The shaft 35 has one bearing 36 formed on the thrust-block 16 and other bearings, also numbered 36, formed on the thrust-, block 26 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Shown in section in the said Fig. 2 and within the spiral apparatus 9, is a corru-. gated cone member 39 hav ng its hub 12 secured to the sleeve 11 whereby rotary movement is imparted thereto." Collars 40 are arranged upon the sleeve 11, the same having bearings within the thrust-block 26, where they are held in place by semi-circular metallic rings 41 fitted in corresponding grooves within the said thrust-block, which hold and prevent the sleeve from slipping forward, thereby holding the cone 39 in the desired position. The said sleeve 11 passes through a support 42 (to be described fully hereafter) the disk or plate 23, the sleeve 11, and thrust-bearing 26 and has keyed or otherwise secured to its inner end, the beveled gear 32 which meshes with the'gear 29 as previously described. The support 42 is provided with sleeve bearings 43 and ball-bearings 44, the latter being formed in the end as is clearly shown in Fig. 2, and bearing against the inner face of the cone hub 12. The said support 42 is rigidly secured to the disk 23 by means of the bolts 25, the latter also serving as a connection between the sleeve 11 and the said disk,

bearing for the sleeve 11 at or near its forward end.

In Fi g. 8, the detail structure of the corrugated cone is shown, and this figure shows approximately a correct shape of the corrugations as they would appear in section. If desired, the corrugations may be made sectional to materially decrease the cost of manufacture without in any way effecting the utility of the device, the said sections being secured in any suitable manner to a metallic lining 45, the detail construction of the said lining being as follows :This conical lining is formed by the metal sheets or braces indicated by the numerals 16 and f? and a ring i8, all of which are riveted as at as so as to form a water tight chamber whereby sufficient buoyancy is provided to sustain the weight of the cone 39, and also a part of the weight of the sleeves 11 and 11, thereby aiding in their support and materially reducing the amount of friction. The size of the air chamber would therefore be determined by the weight desired to be sustained. The ring 18 incloses a bearing formed upon the periphery of the support 42, the said bearing acting as a suitable support for said cone 39. The corrugations of the cone 39 may be arranged in a straight line from the base to the apex or hub or they may be formed upon any degree or angle of a spiral curve, but if spiral, the corrugations must always curve in the opposite direction to the spiral vanes 17 of the spirally formed apparatus 9, this construction being clearly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, as the corrugated cone is inclosed or works within the spirally arranged apparatus or vanes 17.

The inner cone 39 creates an abutment against which the water acts, thereby forcing it back against the outer spiral vanes 17. The shape of the corrugations is correctly determined with reference to the curvature of the corrugations in the cone and the outer soiral vanes against which the water is forced.

At the inner end of the sleeve 11, and fitted within the hub of the gear wheel 38, a re packing rings 51 cut and sprung into the hub and set up against the end of the sleeve by springs disposed in the wheel, thereby making the sleeve both oil and water tight. The springs are not shown in the drawings.

For the purpose of supporting the entire apparatus in front, roller bearings 52 are placed between the disk plate 19 and the annular disk 18 which carries the vanes 17, thereby relieving the backward thrust and friction created during the revolution or rotation of the said vanes. These rollers 52 run in specially prepared tracks 53 formed in such a manner as to effectually race and support the entire apparatus in addition to relieving the friction as above explained.

The structure by which the supplementary cylindrical hull 6 of the vessel is inclosed comprises a disk or plate 54: to which it is riveted as at 55, while the plate 19 is also riveted thereto as at 56, this connection forming a rigid bearing, by means of the said plate 19, for the sleeve 11.

The bevel gear wheel 29 is rigidly secured to the said shaft 31, one end of the said shaft running in a bearing 57, and the opposite end in a bearing formed in the thrust-block 26. It is through the instrument-ality of this wheel 29, that the propeller 8 arranged at the forward end of the vessel, is driven, the corrugated cone 39 and the spiral apparatus 9 both uniting in effecting this result.

Plates 58 eXtend along both sides of the vessel at or near the center of the supplementary cylindrical hull 6, the said plates being inclined slightly upward toward the bow of the vessel and secured to the propeller casing 2, thereby bracing the same. The object of the inclined plates 58 is to give the vessel a slight lift, suflicient to raise it until no part thereof is below the water line except the cylindrical or supplementary hull (3. The advantage of the above is apparent.

A further object of this plate is to give the vessel asmooth gliding motion when running.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the propellers, designated therein by the numerals and 60 are respectively right and left hand screws, and rotate of course, in opposite or reverse directions. It will be further seen, upon reference to Fig. f, that the conical shaped spiral apparatus 61 and G2 are right and left hand spirals and that each propeller rotates in a corresponding manner to the direction in which the spirals are arranged, that is, that the screw must run in the same direction, and propeller must rotate in the same direction as the spiral vanes adjacent which they are mounted. Referring again to Fig. 1', 61 is a left hand spiral and rotates to the left, the propeller ('50 mounted adjacent thereto being a left hand screw, also rotating in a left hand direction; 62 is a right hand spiral and rotates, of course, to the right, while the propeller 59 is a right hand screw and also rotates to the right, all of which is clearly illustrated in the said Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The interior mechanism of the supplementary hulls 63 and 6 of the twin propeller arrangement is identical with that of the lull 6 described in detail heretofore, except as to the direction of travel of the spiral vanes and propellers, which rotate oppositely. The principle, object, and method of operation of the twin screw prop lled vessel is identical with that employed in a single screw propelled vessel, all machinery within the hull of the said vessel being in duplicate to that described, and illustrated in connection with the single screw and the same need not be further described. The propeller shaft 5 is slightly inclined toward its forward end, the object being to hold down or lower the water immediately in front of the vessel, and thus prevent banking of the water which is usual in all other boats. As a strong outward impetus is given the water by the inner cone 39 as it leaves the boat at the diverged end of the spiral, thereby greatly lessening the pressure of the surrounding water immediately at that point, the boat may be broadened or enlarged in diameter to some extent. This feature permits the vessel to be made slightly larger in diameter throughout the supplementary hull within the spiral arrangement in front, if so desired.

In the preferred embodiment, the vessel should slightly swell from its forward end back a suitable distance, and from this point it gradually recedes on the bottom back to the stern, where it merges into an oval-shape to allow the water ample time to settle in behind as the vessel travels'forward. 7

Other shapes of hulls than that described may be used in connection with my device but that herein described, it is believed, is best adapted to the same. If the application of the invention be to a sail vessel, no propeller would be placed in front, nor casing indicated by the numeral 2, but only the apparatus indicated by the numerals 9 and 39 in connection with a propeller disposed at the stern of the vessel having a shaft geared to the main shaft 5.

In cases where extra high speed is desired, an auxiliary propeller 65 may be used in connection with the one in front, said propeller 65 being placed at the stern of the vessel and geared to the main shaft 5. This arrangement is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 and it is therefore not necessary to describe the gearing by which it is connected with the main propeller (or propellers). The object of this auxiliary propeller would be to force the vessel forward into the so called vacuum in front of the forward propeller, thereby forcing it forward faster than it might be drawn by the said forward propeller. The vacuum in front would thus be more fully and rapidly utilized by the addition of a small auxiliary propeller at the stern, and a higher speed attained.

As to the cylindrical or supplementary hull of the vessel, the same will of course, be divided into any desired number of compartments, such as storage rooms for freight, fuel, machinery, etc., this being only suggested and entirely left to the designer and ship-builder.

In operation, the engine or other motive power being applied to the propeller shaft,

and the propeller being at the bow, the whirling backward current is thrown against the corrugated cone which splits the same and forces it outwardly against the spiral vanes surrounding the cone. This cone with its corrugations thus becomes an abutment against which the current of water acts, and re-acts against the spiral vanes indicated by 17, forcing the cone and the spiral in opposite directions. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 2, it will therefore be seen that the combined power resulting from the force of the current against the corrugated cone 39 and spiral apparatus 9 is transmitted by means of their sleeve-like shafts indicated by the numerals 11 and 11 to the gear wheels, 28, 29 and 32 and to the gear wheel 33 which in turn transmits it to the wheel 34-, thence by means of the shaft 35 to the gear wheel 37, and thence directly to the wheel 38 secured on the main propeller shaft 5.

It is therefore apparent that the current of water set in backward motion by the propeller is caught and utilized by the compound arrangement indicated by the numerals 39 and 9 and that the force of the current thus set in motion is therefore returned to the propeller by the mechanism herein described and illustrated by the drawings. It

is plain that but little loss occurs from the current being thrown backward from the stern of the vessel as is usual in all other vessels propelled by screws, as there is but little current thrown in backward motion from that point. As in all screw propellers there is a whirling motion given to the water besides a backward motion, and as this whirling motion is detrimental to the propeller and is lost in surrounding water, the casing indicated by 2 incloses the propeller at the bow, thus dividing the water within the casing from thatsurrounding it, and as the propeller rotates in the same direction as the spiral apparatus indicated by 9, this whirling motion of the water is thrown directly against the spiral vanes 17 thus utilizing its whirling force.

It should be observed that the gearing connecting the propeller with the corrugated cone and the spiral apparatus is so proportioned as to speed, as to throw the combined stress of the parts 39 and 9 on to the pinion or wheel secured on the propeller shaft and indicated by 38, that is, if the pinion on the propeller shaft were left free on the shaft it would out travel the shaft. While the cor rugations on the cone may be straight pro tions than the spiral apparatus and that the number of these revolutions will be determined by the pitch of its screw.

One of the most important objects of my device being to overcome the resistance of water immediately in front of vessel, which increases in proportion to the square of the vessels speed, the following method should be carefully considered by which it is proposed to be done.

As the screw propeller is placed directly in front and as its diameter may be the same as that of the cylindrical part of the vessel, it is evident that by sufliciently speeding the propeller the front sides of its blades out run or leave the water immediately in front, thereby relieving all pressure on its front side and creating in effect a vacuum equal in diameter to that of the cylindrically shaped hull of the vessel, and therefore a channel is cleared in front of the vessel equal to the area of that portion of the hull beneath the water line, and as there is no resistance left to overcome, the principle, that a vessel is resisted in front in proportion to the square of its speed, is avoided. It is further evident that if the diameter of the propeller is less than the diameter of the cylindrically shaped part of the vessel only so much resistance is relieved against the hull as is contained in the area transcribed by the propeller blades; if the diameter of the propeller equals the diameter of the hull of course, the number of square feet contained in each of their areas is the same and the whole resistance at the front end of the hull is relieved. The principle that the water in front of a moving body or ship, resists in proportion to the square of the speed of such body or ship is a very vital one, and its importance cannot be overestimated as it means a proportional increase of driving power.

By sufficiently speeding the propeller is meant so varying its pitch of screw according to the number of its revolutions that the speed of a current thrown backward from it shall exceed the speed of the vessel, as otherwise the resistance on the front side of the blades would not be relieved. Sufficient speed is easily maintained to do this by means of the apparatus 9 and 39, the said apparatus catching the force of the current thrown from the propeller, and thereby aiding the engine or other driving power. l/Vhen an auxiliary propeller is used in connection with my device as indicated herein, a slight loss of power occurs at the stern of the vessel; otherwise no loss of power occurs.

It will be understood that the above description and the accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of my invention and that various minor changes in the details of construe,- tion, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In ship propelling means, a rotatable spiral apparatus arranged at the forward end of the vessel, and a rotatable exteriorly corrugated cone member disposed within the said apparatus, the said apparatus and the said cone adapted to be simultaneously rotated from the same source in opposite directions.

2. In ship propelling means, a rotatable conically shaped spiral apparatus arranged at the forward end of the vessel, a rotatable corrugated cone member mounted for rotation within the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and the said cone member adapted to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions from the same source, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In ship propelling means, a rotatable conically shaped spiral apparatus arranged at the bow of the ship, and a rotatable corrugated cone member arranged upon the interior of the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and cone adapted to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions.

4. In ship propelling means, a supplementary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, a propeller disposed at the forward extremity of the said hull, a rotatable conically shaped spiral apparatus arranged adjacent the said propeller, and a rotatable corrugated cone member disposed within the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and cone adapted to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions.

5. In ship propelling means, a supplementary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, a cylindrical casing formed at the forward extremity of the said hull, a propeller mounted within said casing, a rotatable conically shaped spiral apparatus carried by the said hull and disposed adjacent the said propeller, and a rotatable corrugated cone member arranged upon the interior of the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and cone adapted to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions.

6. In ship propelling means, a supple mentary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, a cylindrical member arranged at the forward extremity of the said hull, a driven shaft arranged longitudinally within the said hull and projecting therefrom at the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon the forward extremity of the said shaft within the said casing, a conically shaped spiral apparatus loosely mounted upon the said shaft, a corrugated cone member loosely mounted upon the said shaft and arranged within the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and cone adapted to be simultaneously rotated in opposite directions, and gear mechanism arranged upon the interior of the hull for controlling the rotation of the said apparatus and cone according to the rotation of the said shaft.

7. In ship propelling means, a supplementary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, a cylindrical casing arranged at the forward extremity of the said hull, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the hulland projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon the forward extremity of the said shaft within the said casing, a conically shaped spiral apparatus loosely mounted uponthe said shaft adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member mounted upon the said shaft within the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and cone adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, and means including a plurality of gears and shafts arranged upon the interiorof.

the hull. for rotating the said cone and apparatus according to the rotation of the said driven shaft.

8. In ship propelling means, a supplementary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, an extension formed upon the forward end of the said hull, a cylindrical casing carried by the said extension and arranged upon the forward end thereof, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the said hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, one end of the said shaft being journaled within the said extension, a propeller mounted upon said shaft adapted to revolve within the said casing, a conically shaped spiral apparatus loosely mounted upon the said shaft adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member mounted upon the said shaft within the said spiral apparatus, gear mechanism arranged upon the interior of the hull for controlling the rotation of the said apparatus and cone according to the rotation of thesaid shaft and meansincluding a plurality of gears and shafts for simultaneously rotating the said apparatus and cone in opposite directions.

9. In ship propelling means, the combina tion of a supplementary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, an extensionformed at the forward end of the said hull, a cylindrical'casing carried at the forward end of the said extension, brace plates extending transversely to the said casing at the forward end of the said extension, a

driven shaft extending longitudinally of th hull, the forward end thereof being journaled within the said extension, a propeller mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft within the said casing, means arranged upon the exterior of the hull for slightly elevating the forward end of the ship during the travel thereof, and means including a conically shaped spiral apparatus mounted on said shaft, the vanes of the said apparatus commencing at the apex of the'cone and extending rearwardly to the base thereof.

10. In ship propelling means, the combination of a supplementary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, a shaft extending longitudinally of the said hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted on the forward extremity of the said shaft, a conically shaped spiral apparatus loosely mounted upon the said shaft adjacent the said propeller, the vanes of the said apparatus commencing at the apex of the cone and extending rearwardly to the base thereof, the said vanes increasing in width as the diameter of the cone increases, and means including a' corrugated cone member mounted upon the said shaft within the said spiral apparatus and adaptd to rotate in the opposite direction thereto.

11. In ship propelling means, a supplementary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, a driven shaft extending from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon the forward end of and rotatable with said shaft, a conically'shaped spirally arranged apparatus mounted upon the said shaft adjacent said propeller, a .cor-

ranged upon the interior of the hullfor simultaneously rotating the said cone mem-, her and said spiral apparatus according to the rotation of said shaft.

12. In ship propelling means, the combination of a supplementary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the said hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted on the extended portion of the shaft, a conically shaped spirally arranged apparatus mounted on the said shaft adjacent the said propeller, the spiral vanes of the said apparatus commencing at the apex of the cone and extending rearwardly to the base thereof, the said vanes increasing in width as the diameter of the cone increases, a sleeve loosely mounted upon the said shaft, a corrugated cone member arranged upon the interior of the spiral apparatus and rotatable with the said sleeve, and a plurality of gears and shafts arranged upon the interior of the hull for connecting the said spiral apparatus to the said corrugated cone for controlling rotary motion thereof according to the rotation .of the said shaft, the said cone and apparatus vlongitudinally of the hull and projecting Y being adapted to be rotated in opposite directions.

13. In ship propelling means, the combination of a supplementary hull arranged below the water line of the ship, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the hull, a spirally arranged apparatus mounted loosely upon the forward end of the said shaft, a corrugated cone member arranged upon the interior of the said spiral apparatus and adapted to be rotated in an opposite direction thereto, a sleeve loosely mounted upon the said shaft for imparting motion to the said cone member, a disk loosely mounted upon the said sleeve, an annular disk for connecting the said first mentioned disk to the said spirally arranged apparatus, a second sleeve loosely mounted upon the first mentioned sleeve and rotatable with the said disk, and means including a plurality of gears and shafts connecting the said two sleeves to the said main shaft for simultaneously rotating the said cone and spiral apparatus in opposite direction.

1%. In ship propelling means, the combination of a supplementary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the hull, and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon the forward extremity of the said shaft and rotatable therewith, a conically shaped spirally arranged apparatus mounted upon the said shaft adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member arranged upon the interior of the said spiral apparatus, a sleeve loosely mounted upon the said shaft to which the said cone member is secured, a disk loosely mounted upon the said sleeve, an annular disk carried by the said first mentioned disk for connecting the latter to the spirally arranged apparatus, a second sleeve loosely mounted upon the said first mentioned sleeve, the said second mentioned sleeve adapted to be rotated with the said spiral apparatus, and means including a plurality of gears and shafts arranged upon the interior of the hull for simultaneously rotating the said cone member and spiral apparatus in opposite directions.

15. In means for propelling ships, a spiral apparatus mounted for rotation at the forward end of the ship beneath the water line thereof, and a corrugated cone member operable within said spiral apparatus.

16. In ship propelling means, the combination of a supplementary hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, an extension formed upon the forward extremity of said hull, a cylindrical casing carried by the said extension, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the said hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted on the forward end of the said shaft, the said propeller adapted to be rotated Within the said cylindrical casing, a conically shaped spiral apparatus loosely mounted on the said shaft adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member disposed upon the interior of the said spiral apparatus, a sleeve loosely mounted upon the said shaft, a rotatable disk loosely mounted upon the said sleeve, an annular disk connecting the said first mentioned disk to the said spiral apparatus, and means including a plurality of gears and shafts arranged upon the interior of the hull for connecting the said spiral apparatus and corrugated cone for simultaneously rotating the same in opposite directions, as and for the purpose set forth.

17. In ship propelling means, a supple mentary hull arranged beneath the water line of the ship, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon the forward extremity of the said shaft and rotatable therewith, a conically shaped spirally arranged apparatus mounted upon said shaft adjacent said propeller, a corrugated cone member disposed within the said spiral apparatus, the said spiral apparatus and the said cone member being both connected to said shaft to assist in the driving thereof, and means including a plurality of gears and shafts disposed upon the interior of the supplementary hull to effect such connection, as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In means for propelling ships, a spiral apparatus mounted for rotation at the forward end of the ship, and a corrugated cone member operable within the said spiral apparatus, the said cone member and the said apparatus being rotatable in opposite directions.

19. In means for propelling ships, a supplemental hull disposed beneath the water line of the ship, a shaft extending longitudinally of the hull and projecting from the forward end thereof, a propeller mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft, means mounted upon said shaft, said means operating to overcome the resistance of the water during forward movement of the ship, and a member operable within said last mentioned means, said member and said means adapted to be rotated in opposite directions.

20. In means for propelling ships, a spiral apparatus at the forward end thereof, a corrugated cone member operating within the said apparatus, the said cone member and the said apparatus being disposed beneath the water line of the ship, the action of the water upon said corrugated cone member and said spiral apparatus adapted to rotate the same in opposite directions to assist in propelling the ship.

21. In means for propelling ships, a propeller at the forward end thereof, a spiral apparatus mounted for rotation adjacent the said propeller, and a corrugated cone member operable Within the said spiral apparatus. 1

22. In means for propelling ships, a supplemental hull disposed beneath the Water line thereof, a shaft extending longitudinally of the said hull and projecting from one end thereof, a propeller mounted upon and rotatable With said shaft, a conically shaped spiral apparatus mounted upon said shaft adjacent the said propeller, and a corrugated cone member operable Within the said spiral apparatus, the said apparatus and the said cone member adapted to be driven in opposite directions as and for the purpose set forth.

23. In means for propelling ships, a propeller mounted at the forward end thereof beneath the Water line of the ship, a spiral apparatus mounted for rotation adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member mounted for rotation Within the said spiral apparatus, the said spiral apparatus and the said cone member adapted to be rotated in opposite directions, as and for the purpose set forth.

24:. In means for propelling ships, a supplemental hull disposed beneath the Water line thereof, a propeller mounted for rotation at the forward end of the said hull, a conically shaped spiral apparatus mounted for rotation adjacent the said propeller, a corrugated cone member mounted for rotation'adjacent the said spiral apparatus, the action of the Water upon the said cone member and the said spiral apparatus during the forward movement of the vessel adapted to directly assist in driving the said propeller, as and for the purpose set forth.

25. In means for propelling ships, a pro peller mounted for rotation at the forward. end of the ship beneath the Water line thereof, a conical spiral apparatus mounted for rotation adjacent the said propeller, a cor rugated cone member mounted for rotation adjacent the said spiral apparatus, the action of the Water upon the said spiral apparatus and the said cone member during forward movement of the vessel adapted to rotate the same in opposite directions to directly assist in driving the said propeller and .to partially overcome the resistance at the boW of the ship during the movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. WRIGHT.

itnesses:

W. B. WRIGHT, W. L. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. V 

